Two midfielders from the Low Countries caught the eye as Middlesbrough FC got their pre-season campaign off to a winning start at York City.

Dutch new boy Marten de Roon enjoyed a promising debut following his £11m move from Atalanta while Belgian midfielder Julien de Sart shone out in the Bootham Crescent gloom.

Signed in the January transfer window from Standard Liege, de Sart was seen as one for the future.

But, over the past six months, word has been sneaking out of the Rockliffe Park training ground that de Sart is something special. Well, time will tell, but against non-league York he looked a class apart in a 6-0 win.

His range of passing was outstanding and he hit three inch-perfect cross-field balls inside the opening 20 minutes.

Middlesbrough’s Julien De Sart chase down York’s Shaun Rooney

Playing as a defensive midfielder alongside Adam Forshaw, the young Belgian covered plenty of ground to close the angles and options when York pressed and he pushed forward with poise and purpose when the time was right.

The battle for the two places in front of the Boro back four next season will be a fierce one.

Clayton and Grant Leadbitter , who is recovering from an operation, were outstanding last season, but they’ll have to be at their best to keep de Sart and de Roon at bay in the Premier League.

Introduced at half-time, de Roon grew in confidence following some tentative early touches.

He played a stunning through-ball to release Jordan Rhodes on the hour mark but the striker – who initially looked marginally offside - was closed down by recovering defender Matt Fry and was unable to make the most of his opportunity.

De Roon also had a hand in Adam Reach’s stunning goal, which increased the visitors’ lead to 5-0.

Soon after he had a powerful shot blocked and required treatment after an opponent followed through on him but was eventually able to continue.

It’s early days but it’s fair to say Boro have high hopes for their two boys from the Low Countries and there’s definitely more to come from both.